Visitor Centre

We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions from guests of our hotel. Hopefully you will find this information useful. If you have a question that is not on the list, please feel free to contact the hotel, it would be our pleasure to assist you.

1. Q: What languages are spoken at the hotel?

A: English is spoken by all staff members and we usually always have someone who speaks French and/or Spanish on duty. Other languages spoken include Italian, Portuguese, Filipino and Mandarin.

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2. Q: Do you accept pets?

A: No we regret that due to our policy of limiting allergy possibilities for our guests, we refrain from accepting guests travelling with their pets. Of course service animals are the exception.

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3. Q: Where is the nearest bank or ATM?

A: Toronto is the city of banking and we have many options within a block.

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4. Q: Is your area safe?

A: Our area is a bustling crossroads of shoppers and students and is considered one of the safest districts in downtown Toronto. Please continue to use your usual vigilance when visiting any major urban area.

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5. Q: Can I smoke in the hotel?

A: Our hotel is 100% non smoking but invite our smoking guests to use a designated outside smoking area. Please note that we strictly enforce our non smoking policy.

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6. Q: Is there a grocery store nearby?

A:A major chain grocery store is one block away and a boutique 24hr market is directly across the street.

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7. Q: Is there a pharmacist nearby?

A: We have a wonderful family run chemist next door and major chain drug stores within a five minute walk.

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8. Q: What if I have a medical emergency?

A: Our staff members are trained in advanced CPR and Toronto EMS is second to none. Major hospitals are less than five minutes by car.

Toronto Weather & What to Pack

Toronto is located on the shores of Lake Ontario and is ideally positioned below the snow belt and above the Gulf stream, ensuring we escape the extreme weather associated with nearby Buffalo or Ottawa. Summer is always warm and humid and winter is cold and wetter, often with snow. Spring and fall are transitional, so expect change and dressing in layers is highly recommended. The Holiday Inn Toronto Bloor Yorkville is air conditioned in the summer and heated in winter, regulated in your room using your private climate controls.

What to Pack

Spring/Fall

Early spring can be quite unpredictable in Toronto, with daytime temperatures in March and April near or below 12°C with the occasional chance of below freezing temperatures and snow. May brings a noticeable warm up, with daytime temperatures averaging near 18°C.

Autumn is quite mild in Toronto. Mid October usually brings the first frost.

What to Pack:

• Warm clothing that can be layered during the day
• Light waterproof rain coat
• Warm coat for the evenings

Summer

In the Summer months (June, July, August) Toronto experiences warm humid summers.With high temperatures in the range of 24°C to 27°C.

What to Pack:

• Short sleeved shirts & shorts for the daytime
• Light sweaters, and pants for the evening
• Light waterproof rain coat or windbreaker

Winter

In the Winter months (December, January, February) Toronto experiences mild winters, with temperature typically in the range of -2°C to 0°C. Toronto normally receives approx. 100-120 cm of snowfall during the course of the season.

What to Pack:

• Warm/Heavy coat
• Waterproof boots/shoes
• Gloves, scarf and warm hat

Click to View Larger Map

Toronto's name means "meeting place." With more than 2 million people calling it home, Toronto is Canada's largest city and the capital of Ontario. Toronto is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario.

Toronto is currently ranked 14th in the world with over 4,000,000 tourist arrivals a year . Toronto's most prominent landmark is the CN Tower, which currently stands as the second tallest free-standing land structure in the world at 553 metres (1,815 ft). To the surprise of its creators, the tower held the world record for over 30 years, before losing its title to the Burj Dubai in 2007.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a major museum for world culture and natural history. The Toronto Zoo, one of the largest in the world, is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 460 distinct species. The Art Gallery of Ontario contains a large collection of Canadian, European, African and contemporary artwork. The Gardiner Museum of ceramic art which is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics and the Museum's collection contains more than 2,900 ceramic works from Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The Ontario Science Centre always has new hands-on activities and science displays particularly appealing to children, and the Bata Shoe Museum also features many unique exhibitions. The Don Valley Brick Works is a former industrial site, which opened in 1889, and has recently been restored as a park and heritage site. The Canadian National Exhibition is held annually at Exhibition Place, and it is the oldest annual fair in the world. It is Canada's largest annual fair and the fifth largest in the world, with an average attendance of 1.3 million.

The Yorkville neighbourhood is one of Toronto's most elegant shopping and dining areas. On many occasions, celebrities from all over North America can be spotted in the area, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival. The Toronto Eaton Centre is one of North America's top shopping destinations, and Toronto's most popular tourist attraction with over 1 million visitors per week.

Greektown on the Danforth, is another one of the major attractions of Toronto which boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometre in the world. It is also home to the annual "Taste of the Danforth" festival which attracts over one million people in 2 1/2 days. Toronto is also home to Canada's most famous "castle" - Casa Loma, the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man. Other notable neighbourhoods and attractions include The Beaches, the Toronto Islands, Kensington Market, Fort York, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.